Machine for treating cinematographic films



April 6 1.926.n

G. A. SALINS MACHINE FOR TREATING CINEMATOGRAPHIC FILMS Filed Nov. 14, 1922 '7 sheets-snaai, 1

gull!! GEOR GES AUGUSTIN SALINS INWNTOR By his At torney April s 192e G. A. SLINS MACHINE FOR TREATING CINEMATOGRAPHIC FILMS Filed NOVv 14-I 1922 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 GEORGES AUGUSTIN SLINS @TOR his M torney April 6 1926. 1,579,399

G. Ai SALJNS MACHINE FOR TREATING CINEMATOGRAPHIC FILMS Filed Nov. 14,'1922 7 Sheetsheet 5 GEORGES AUGUSTIN SALINS NVENTOR ni s At t orney April 6 1926.

MACHINE FOR TREATING CINEMATOGRAPHIC FILMS 7 Sheets-Sht' A4 Filed Nov. 14 1922 lulu l u r.

,GORGES AUGUSTIN sums INIENTOR hi s Attorney April 6 1926.

G. A. SALINS MACHINE FOR TREATING CINEMATOGRAPHIC FILMS Filed Nov. 14, 1922 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 GEORGES AUGUSTIN SALINS INVENTOR his Attorney April 5 ,f 1926 Y f G. A. SALiNs MACHINE FOR TREATING CINEMATGRAPHIC FILMS 7 Sheets-Sheeii 6 GEORGES AUGUSTTN SALINS IIWENTOR his Attorney 'Apil s ,19%. v www@ G. A. SALJNS MACHINE FOR TREATING CINEMATOGRAPHIC FILMS Filed NOV. 14 1922 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 GEORGES AUGUSTIN SALINS INVENTOR By ma his Attorney Patented Apr. 6, 1926 UNITE-o STATES AGEICERG'IEI: UGUSTIN SALINS, OF VINCENNES, FRANCE, .ASSXGNOR T0 PATE@ Cm da,

ANCIENS ETABLISSEMENTS PATHE FRERES, F it. FRANCE. i'

MACHINE FOB TBETING CINEMATOGMEHIC FILMS.

Application filed November 14, 1922. Berial 'o. @030,798.

T 0 all whom it may/.concern Be it known that I, GEORGES AUGUSTIN SALINS, citizen of the French Republic, re

siding at Vincennes, Seine, in the Republic of France, have invented new .and useful Improvements in Machines for Treating Cinematographic Films, of which the following. is a specification.

Within recent years there hasbeen brought out in the cinematographic field an operatmg method of a more or less industrial character which consists in assembling in proper order the different negatives of a given performance and in printing the positive films by means of an apparatus' with automatic variations of light, and each film is developed for its whole length at the same time.

But this method of operating did not provide for obtaining films of various tints and toning, as the positives are no longer treated separately as when operating with each negative.

The present invention enables the respective toning and tinting of the positives of a 5 given film and by the continuous travel of the film.

According to the invention, adjacent the receptacle, such as a tank, tube or the like, wherein the film is toned or tinted by a continuous process, is disposed the receptacle containing the solution for the next treatment; the change is eifected by holding the beginning of the part of the film to be differently treated., before it enters the firstreceptacle in order to lower it into the second, so that the colouring ofthe film will becarried out in succession. and without breach of continuity, and when the first receptacle contains no more film, which occurs by reachine, the second receptacle is pushed into the lace of the first.

itherto, the first part of said operation which consisted in transferring the film into another receptacle has been carried out suticiently well in current practice, this being done by hand and by inserting a connecting piece between the two parts of the ilm under diierent treatments, but means had not been N provided :tor causing said receptacle to ooson of the continuous working of the ma-` 4moved f Fig. 2 is a side view relative to the second 421/2 of the change, for the part on the left of the pivot, and the th second for the part on the right;

Fig. 8 is a plan view'with sections of the guides;

Fig. 4 is a graphic diagram of the operation of the double grooved camsffor rise and descent of the reels;

Fig. 5 shows the successive positions of the reels in the receptacles and chiefly their position, with the film,'at the 40th second of the change;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the mechanical drive;

Fig. 74 is a view of the 'four-arm device or spider;

Fig. 8 is a front View of the piece holding the reels in the washing water.

Fig. 8l is a side view of the same piece.

Fig. 9 is an elevational view of the straight cam 116 for the release of lever 87 (Fig. 3).

Fig. 10 is an elevational view of `the straight cam 117 for the disappearing of the right-hand bar (Figf).

Fig. 11 is an elevational view of thel straight cam 114 for the disappearing of thel left hand bar 84 (Fig. Fig. 12 shows the three successive positions of the rubber wiping device; A" at the yea 40th second, B at second 421/2 and C` at the 45th second of the change.

Fig. 13 is a view of the upper part oit a receptacle with the strengthening tank and the opening and closing device tor the cock of said tank.

Fig. 14 is a section of a chain vided with a tappet.

Fig. 14a is a side view of said link pro- `the groove 28 of the same cam 26. Each Fig. 15 is a view of the cam giving the an-l gular position of axle 6 (Fig. 2) and the motion of said axle towards or from the right at the 40th and the 45th second, with the method of obtaining the line A-B-( the line D--E being divided into any suitable number of equal parts, each olntobtamed is-connected with the lcentre and on each line thus drawn, the length A-D 1s set down, starting from the line D-E. These two cams form but a single piece.

Fig. 16 is a plan view of the circular ratchet device actuating the shaft 1.

Fig. 17 is a view showing the three positions A B C of the rollers mounted on the plate 38, Fig. 1.

According to the example of constructmn which is shown in a diagrammatic manner in the drawings, the machine is arranged as follows:

At the upper end of a pivot or shaft 1 turning in the bearings 2 and 3 (Fig. 2 1s mounted a. support 4 provided wlth four rigid grooved arms forming al turnstile (Fig. 7). 0n each arm is'slidable a piece 5 supporting and guiding a grooved shaft 6 upon which is slidable a sleeve 7 having an arm 8 and a stud, not shown, slidable in the grooved part. To the sleeve 7, (Fig. 1) are secured two rods 9 and 10 each carrying at the lower end a reel 11 and 12.

The rod 9 (Figs. 1 and 2) is provided u on the whole length with a rubber tube. Tide rod is provided with an ebonite sheathing of square section having slidable thereon a small sleeve 13 of square section whereon are mounted two arms 14 (Figs. 1, 2 and 12), 15 (Fig. 2) and a small rubber plate 16 forming a wiping device. At the upper part of the shaft 6, (Fig. 2) is mounted the frame 17 carrying the grooved pulley 18 upon which is disposed a cable attached at one end to the sleeve 7 and at the other to the counterweight 19 guided by the rod 20. Each counterweight carries a horizontal roller 21 secured at the end of a hook 21a (Fig. 3) which is held in its normal position by the spring 22 (Fig. 2). Above the frame 17. the shaft 6 isfurther provided with a support 23 having mounted thereon the roller 24 slidable in the groove 25 formed in the stationary camv 26. (Figs. 2, producing the angular displacementl or rotation of the shaft for giving the pulleys always the proper direction. The piece 5, to enable its movement towards or from the shaft 1, is also provided with a roller 27 slidable in arm thus arranged constitutes an element.

'I he body of the device is constituted (Figs. 1 and 2) by a base plate 29 of steel or like material and having a length equal to that of four receptacles with the addition of a small space. Under vthe receptacles the plate is apertured and is provided with two rows of rollers 30 upon whichV the receptacles are adapted to slide. Above the plate the uprights 33, 34 (Fig.,1) support the angle bars 31 (Figs. 1, 2, 12), 32 (Fig. 2). Upon each of the'latter, is secured a small straight cam 35 (Figs. 2, 12), 36 (Fig. 2) whose use will be set forth hereunder.

The receptacles are held during their forward motion by the vertical plates 37, 38 mounted at the ends of a T-iron member 39 disposed on the line of travel of the receptacles and slidable between the guides 40 and 41. This T-iron member carries a small shaft 42 having mounted thereon the hook 43, la small lever 44 slidable along the straight cam 45 against which it is caused to bear by a spring` not shown, and the lever 46 provided with the handle 47.

The plate 38 carries a device shown in Fig. 17l composed of two rollers adapted to assume the three positions indicated in the `ligure. The member 39 is also provided with a roller 48 slidable in the grooves yformed Vin the lever 49, Fig. 16, loosely mounted on the shaft 1;' this lever is pro vided with the pawl 50 actuating the ratchet lsecured to the shaft 1 which is controlled in this manner bythe translation of the member 39.

Below the T-iron member, the sprocket chainv 52 actuated by the two wheels 53, 54 has disposed on one of its links (Figs. 14 and 14a) a tappet 55, for actuating the hook 43. The wheel 56 keyed to the driving shaft whereupon is mounted the main clutch (Fig. 6) actuates the pinion 57 by'means of the chain 58.

The receptacles which are all exactly ahke, consist of a main body (Figs. 1, 2, 13) whereon are disposed two small smooth rollers, one (106) situated at the top and to the right, and the other (105) in the middle plane and immersed in the liquid; in order to provide a better support for the receptacles, uprights 60, 61 are secured therein by connection pieces; a feed reservoir 62 is disposed at the upper part of the uprights and mamtainslthe level of the liquid in the receptacle by means of the cock 63 and tube 64.

In the apparatus (Figs. 2 and 3) a cylindrical cam 91 the developed surface of which 1s diagrammatically shown on Fig. 4 with two independent grooves causes the rise and descent in the fixed guides 65 by means ci the roller 66 of the carriage 67 provided with a rack 68 which gives the rack 69 having double length a movement in the same direction and at double the speed by'means of the two gear wheels 70, 71; this rack 69 is mounted on the carriage 72 which moves in the fixed guides 73 and hence moves over a length which is double the length of Inovement of the carriage 67. The cylindrical cam 91 also causes the rise and descent in the guides 74- and by means of the roller 75 Levaaee of the carriage 76 carrying a rack 77 which gives to the rack 7 8 having .double length a movement in the contrary direction and at double the speed by means of the threey gear wheels 79; 80 81. This rack 7 8 is mounted on the car1iagew82 which moves in the Xedguides'83 and hence moves over a length which isdouble the length of movement of the carriage 76. The reason for the movement of these two racks in opposite Vdirec-- and 85 serves to hold down' the said element when depressed; the carriage 82 su ports the arm 86 which holds the rising. e ement by means of the lever 87 and the arm 8, and by means of the rod 88 it opens the feed cock of the receptacle through the medium of thev two members 89, 90 (Fig. 13) secured to the lower part of this rod. The cylindrical double grooved cam 91 is secured by a. pin to the shaft 92' (Fig. 6) which receives its movement from the driving shaft 93 by means of' the bevel gears 94, 95, 96, 97 and the shaft 98. 0

At the opposite side, the tank E containing runnin water is used for washing the reels with wir rods and the rubberv wiping device. The element is caused to .descend by a square threaded screw 100; the helical cam 101 enables it to rise at the desired speed, and the rail 102 will retain the square support of saidwiping device. Although the washing and wiping of the ilm are outside oi the present question, it may be remarked that a rotary wiping device comprising) pair of cylindrical brushes is prefere. used, as it admitsof readily changing the part of the film in contact at each change in the dye, asl it will be simply necessary 'to turn the brushes by a certain number of degrees. in order that the art to be cleaned shall come into position or washing in the water, as shown 1n Fig. 1. y

ln normal o eration, the iilm travels in the colouring evice in thev following manner. The film is stretched by a weight, not shown, before entering the apparatus it is preferably wi ed o' and travels on a smooth roller 103 (Fig. 1) and on the roller 104 of the receptacle which is to be used subsequently, then travels through the receptacle in actual use and over the immersed roller 105, leaves by the rollerl 106, reaches the roller 107, descends into the water, being held by the reel 108 loosely revoluble on the axle of the rod 109 which is secured at a suitable height, then rises and when at the discharge it passes between two wiping a ly wheels 110, liland thence u on the toothed drum112 used to draw the ii m, and the latter4 continues'to travel through the rest of the machine. lThe bleaching and the toning devices are of the same character as the coli ouring device, but are obviously not provided with Subsequent wiping. ln normal operation, the spaces A, B, C (Fig. 1) each contain a receptacle, whilst the space D is empty.

,When a change is desired, one awaits the arrival of .fthe separation line somewhat above the point T1(Fig. 1) this being the oint where the film 1s immersed in the iquid in the receptacle C, and the operator at once actuates the clutch 113 (Fig. 6). The cam 91 then commences to rotate as well as the wheels 54g, 53 also driving the chain 52 in the direction shown by the arrow on Fig. 1. The double grooved cam 91 and the chain 52 make a complete turn in 'forty sin seconds, and the duration of the chan e is forty-hva seconds, representing the time taken by any given point of the film to ass in normal running through the receptac e C from 'l tolLthat is, to become bleached, toned or coloured, and it is obvious that the strength of the solution should be determined in consequence.

11n-the receptacle C, as shown in the diagram of the double grooved cam 91, Fig. fi, the roller descends to point B in 20 seconds, so thatthe lever 87 will rise through double the length during the same time, rem tainin the arm 8 of the sleeve 7 which is urged y the Weight 19 of the element' to be raised. i The reels vwill now be brought to B (F1g.k5). It is in fact this height which would be reached in the same time by free reels, the hlm continuing to be discharged at U and being held by the hand, at T. At the same time, the member mounted on the rod 88, (Figs. 2 and 13) in its upward movement wlll close the feed cock of C.

For the left hand receptacle B, the roller 66 will 4rise to L, (Fig. 4) so that the bar 84 (Fig. 3) is located above the arm 8,

land the reels4 do not proceed beyond the saine time, the wiping device 16 is in the osition A. of Fig. 12. The height N is etermined bythe length of im fed by the roller 103, Fig, for 20 seconds, as measured, from its entrance into the liquid (point R) -tol the separation line which is all ways located somewhat above T.

From the third to the of the film through U during this time, in'

addition to the amount of film raised in order to bring the separation line to point (iush with the liquid in B). In this pos1- tion, which is always the position A of Fig.

12, the wiping device prevents the liquid from C remaining on the film from mixing with the liquid from B. Finally, the reels will raise successively to D, E, F, Gr, H, I and reach the point J at the th second. At this time, the cam 116 will drive back the lever S7 and the coils now released vwill at once reach the point K; the lever and the roller 75 after reaching K a. short distance above K will return to the initial point from the 41st to the 46th second. The member 89 mounted on the rod 88 will open the feed cock of the new receptacle in use. In the left hand receptacle, Fig. 5, from the 20th to the 25th second, the reels will descend to O by the amount of film normally. entering by means of the roller -103 added to the length received from C. The film will thus be always well stretched between the two receptacles. 1 From the 25th to the 45th seconds, the reels descend in a regular manner according to the feed of the iilm by the roller 103. On the descent, the bar 8,5 actuated by the straight cam 117 (Figs. 3 and 10) will again enter its guides so as not to come into contact with the arm 8 which is rising at eso this time, as above stated. As shown in Fig. 5, at the 40th second, the reels' are now about to leave the film, and the latter is stretched between the twosmooth drums 104 and 106. The forward motion of the receptacles commences at this moment. For this end, the tappet 55 of chain 52 will reach the hook'43 and will drive the same somewhat before the 40th second, thus bringing the plate 37 in the rst place near the receptacle A whilst the plate 38 will become separated from the receptacle C which will still be held by the small roller 124 situated at C, Fig. 17, and from the 40th to the 45th second the plate 37 impels the three receptacles from left to right through a. distance e ual to their length at the normal speed o the lm in the machine. The drive is stopped when the lever 44 reaches the point 118 of cam 45 (Fig. 1) and raises the hook 43 whilst the coupling piece continues to travel for one second.

During .the sliding movement of'said receptacles, the angular dis lacement of the shaft 1 which is controll by the ktransla-v tion of the member39 through the medium of the roller 48, the lever 49 and the ratchet device 50, 51, beingv equal to 90, each element will take the place of the preceding;

the receptacles A, B, C will travel to the right, thus following the displacement of the reels 11 and 12. In this manner, each element will be successively in service, washed, drained ofi', or in the waiting position.

The whole portion of film between the two drums 104 and 106 will travel upon drum 106 without any movement. of the separation line, and at the 45th second the film is normally discharged from the tank B which has taken the place of the tank C, with the separation line at the front. During this movement, as shown in Fig. 12, the rubber wipingr device will be raised to B and then to C.

When proceeding from a-e to a-g (Fig. 3) the reels are to move in a straight line, whence the use of the roller 427 slidable in the groove 28 of cam 26, Fig. 15.- The angular positionof the reels will be determined during the four stages, by the roller 24 slidable in the groove 25 in the same cam.

When the element situated at a-g now reaches (14d, Fig. 3, the roller 21 of the hook disposedl at the lower part of the weight 19 (Figs. 2 and 3) when reaching the screw 101 will be raised by the square thread, and the reels can descend by their own weight into the water tank. The arm 8 being held back under the corner of the bar 119 of member 120 (Fig. 8) the reels'will be held practically in-the fixed position in the tank. The height of the water is suticient to allow the soiled part of the wiping device which remains attached to the top of the rod by the hooks 121, Fig. 12, to be also washed.

When proceeding to the draining position i a/-b (Fig. 3) the arm 8 is always held by the helical cam 101 commencing at the piece 120, (Fig. 8) and the element can thus rise without prejudicial shocks. During this time the two arms of the frame ofthe wipin device will be retained by the curved rail 102 (Figs. 2 and 3) so that said device is in the proper position to subsequently proceed to -a A contact piece which is disposed at any suitable point on the device gives a signal for the end ofthe change by .means of a button 122; whereupon the member 123 (Fig. 17) will be brought from the position C to the position A, and one then removes the receptacle which was pushed to D, and then by first raising the handle 47 to release the lever 44, the whole device is brought to the left. It is then simply necessary to dispose a new receptaclein the space left empty at A, Fig. 1.

In machines operating at Va higher speed than 100 metres per hour, an image counter is preferably disposed in such manner as to provide for the automatic release of the apparatus.

nordsee Obviously, in order to avoid the use of a mechanical device and without departing from the spirit 0f. the invention, hand control may be used for actuating the clutch 113 (Fi 6) or any kind of marks carried by the lm ma be used for automatically controlling sai clutch.

As the device is given by way of example, it might be designed as well for the use of one reel instead of two or even for more than two reels for each element; and this depends upon the speed of the machine on which the device is used; it might also comprise a greater or lesser number of elements.

Having now described my inrention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by lietters Patent is:

1. A. method whereby the different sections of a cinematographic film may be given the desired colours or tones in a continuous operation, while avoiding the necessity of interposing connecting pieces between the dierent sections of the film, which consists, when a fresh section of the film is about to enter a rst treating receptacle, in stopping the feeding movement ofthe film into said first receptacle, removing said film from said first receptacle, causing the film to dip into a second treating receptacle, simultaneously displacing" both receptacles in order to bring the said second receptacle to the place previously occupied by the said first receptacle, and removing the first receptacle when the lm has entirely left the same. Y

2. A method whereby the different sections of a cinematographic film may be given the desired colours or tones in a continuous operation, while avoiding the necessity of interposing connecting pieces between the dierent sections of the film, which consists,

.when a fresh section of the film is about to enter the treating receptacle, in progressively raim'ng the reels upon which the film is ided in a rst treating receptacle; lowerlng at the same time reels upon which the lm is adapted to be guided in a second Atreating receptacle placed before .the said first .receptac e and displacing both recep` tacle's simultaneously at the travellin speed of the film and in the direction of sai vtravel in order to bring the said second receptacle to the place previously occupied by the said first treatin receptacle.

3. A met od whereby the different sections of a cinematographic filmmay be given the desired colours or tones in a continuous operation, while avoidingthe necessity of interposing connecting ieces between the different sections of the film, which consists, when a fresh section of the lm is about to enter a first treating receptacle, in progressively raising the reels upon which the film is guided in said first treating receptacle; lowering 'at the same time reels upon which the film is adapted to be guided in a second 'cordin treating receptacle placed before the 'said first receptac e and displacing both receptacles simultaneously at the travelling speed of the film and in the direction of said travel in order to bring said second receptacle to the place previously occupied by the said first receptacle, the downward movement of the reels in the said first receptacle and their upward movementin the said second receptacle being so adjusted Vthat the separating line between the section of the filml in the said first receptacle and the succeeding section,-which separating line was situated 'at a point near the level of' the liquid in the said first receptacle at the inlet into the latteris brought backward tothe level of the liquid in the said second receptacle at the exit from the latter.

4. An apparatus for treating cinematographic films comprising a first treating receptacle, a second treating receptacle, a washing receptacle, a central vertical shaft, a bracket with radial horizontal arms mounted on said shaft, carriers adapted to slide along said radial arms, respectively, vertical spindles respectively supported by said carriers, operative units adapted to slide along said spindles, each of said units comprising reels upon which the film is guided, means for raising and lowering the said units along said spindles and means for impartin successive angular motions to said centra shaft whereby the various units are adapted to cooperate with said receptacles.

5. In combination with the apparatus according to claim 4, stationary cams adapted to control the angular positions of the vertical spindles.

6. In an 'apparatus according to claim fl, the arrangement in which the means for raising and lowering the said units along said spindles comprise counter-weights and a rotary double grooved cam adapted to cooperate with the two units in the said rst and second treating receptacles.

7. ln-combination with an apparatus acto claim Il, including an arrangen ment 1n which the means for. raisin@ and lowering the said unitsalong said spindles comprise counterweights and a rotary cam adapted to cooperate with the two units in the auxiliary and treating receptacles, a screw for raisin the counterweight of the unit in the was ing receptacle, means for rotating said screw, and a helical vcam for controlling the risin movement of' the said unit in the said was ing receptacle.

8. ln combination with an apparatus according to claim 4, means for automatically pushing the said first and second treating receptacles by a distance corresponding to one receptacle.

9. .In combination with an apparatus aocording to claim 4, a reserve l-r'ecetacle and means for pushi the reserve, a rst and a second treatingreceptacles by a distance corresponding to one receptacle, said means comprising a sliding bar, a pusher plate carried by said bar, an endless chain, means for actuating said endless chain, and'clutch members for connecting the endless'chain to the sliding bar.

10. In combination with an ap aratus. ac'- cording to claim v4, means for pu ing a first and a second' treating receptacles by a distance corresponding to one receptacle, said means comprising a sliding bar, a pusher plate carried by said bar, an endless chain, means for actuating said endless chain and clutch members for connecting the endless chain to the slidingbar, and a ratchet device by means of which the sliding bar is used to. impart a step by step movement to the centralshaft.

,11. Incombination with an apparatus ac.

cording to Vclaim 4, a reserve receptacle, means for pushingv the reserve, a first and a second treating receptacles by a distance corresponding to one receptacle, said means comprising a slidingabar, a pusherf .plate carried by said bar, an endless chain, means for actuating said endless chain and clutch members for connecting the endless chain to the-sliding-bar, and a ratchet devicelby means of which the sliding bar is used to impart a step by step movement to the cen.-

12e In combination with an apparatus according to claim 4, means for pushing a first .and a second treating receptacles by a distance vcorresponding to one receptacle, said means comprising a sliding bar, ar pusher plate carried by said bar, an endless chain, means for'actuating saidL endless `chain and `clutch members `for connecting the endless chain to the sliding -barand`a wiping device s'lidably mountedron yeach of the operative t units and camk members connected to the pusher plate for actuating said wiping devices.

- v 13".' .In combination with an apparatus according to claim' 4, a reserve receptacle, means for pushingfthe reserve, a first anda second treating receptacles by a distance corresponding to one receptacle, said means *comprising a sliding bar, a pusher plate carried by said bar, an endless chain, means for actuating said endless chain and clutch members for connecting the endless chain to the sliding bar and a wiping device slidably mounted oneach of the operative units and cam members connected to the pusher plate for 'actuating said wiping devices.

14. In combination with an apparatus according to clailn't, a reserve receptacle and means for pushing the reserve, a first and a second treating receptaclesby a distance corresponding to one receptacle, said means comprising a sliding b ar, a pusher plate carried by said bar', an endless chain, means for actuating said endless chain and clutch members for connecting the endless chain to the sliding bar, and an abutment plate connected to the pusher plate and a spring actuated lever mounted on said'abutment plate and adapted to hold the first treating receptacle in position during the shifting of the receptacles.

15; In combination with an apparatus ac cording to claim 4c, feedin tanks for maintainin a constant level o liquid in the receptac es, cocks on said feeding tanks means actuated by the raising membersfor GEORGES AUGUSTIN sALINs. 

